Poll: 62% in Middle East, North Africa unhappy with salaries

Across the Middle East and North Africa, 62 percent of nationals and residents are not satisfied with their work salaries, according to a survey conducted by YouGov, an independent research and consultancy firm, and Bayt.com, a popular recruitment website.

Only 15 percent of respondents are “extremely satisfied.”

Respondents “are not very satisfied with the various elements related to their professional life,” stated the summary report of the survey, entitled “Happiness and wellbeing in the MENA region.”

The summary added: “Highest dissatisfaction is with financial independence across all three regions” of the Gulf, Levant and North Africa.

“General safety”, “security” and “leading a stable financial life” are the most important factors that impact on one’s general happiness, according to participants’ responses.

The report revealed concern over lack of career-advancement opportunities, especially in Jordan, Syria, Algeria and Morocco.

Results were measured by collecting online data from Arabs, as well as Western and Asian expatriates.

A total of 11,170 male and female adults over 18 years old responded to the survey.